Pakistan Nears IMF Review With Most Targets on Track
Pakistan is heading toward the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) September 2026 review with most of its key programmed targets expected to be on track. According to Arif Habib Limited (AHL), six of the seven quantitative performance criteria are likely to have been met at the March and June 2026 test dates. The IMF review will […]
SBP Earnings Slide 20% to Rs1.99 Trillion in FY26 Amid Lower Interest Income
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) ended fiscal year 2025-26 with a substantial but lower profit, as falling earnings from its financial assets weighed on its overall income. The central bank reported a net profit of Rs1.99 trillion for FY26, down from Rs2.499 trillion a year earlier. The decline of roughly Rs506 billion represents a […]
SECP Introduces Digital Investor Onboarding System to Make Account Opening Faster
The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has taken a major step toward making investment in Pakistan’s capital markets easier and more accessible by introducing a new unified digital investor onboarding framework. The initiative is aimed at removing unnecessary paperwork, reducing repeated verification procedures and making it significantly quicker for individuals to start investing. […]
Saudi Investors Show Growing Interest in Pakistan’s Key Economic Sectors
Pakistan’s efforts to attract foreign investment have received another boost with the arrival of a high-level Saudi business delegation seeking opportunities in several major areas of the economy. Led by Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, the delegation visited the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) for discussions with […]
Pakistan Moves Toward a Dedicated Venture Capital Framework for Startups
Pakistan is preparing to introduce a dedicated legal framework for venture capital investment, with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) sharing a proposed Venture Capital Bill with the Board of Investment (BOI). The initiative is aimed at addressing one of the major challenges faced by Pakistani startups: limited access to investment capital. The […]
Pakistan Faces Fresh Inflationary Pressure as August CPI Expected to Cross 10%
Pakistan’s inflation outlook is showing renewed signs of pressure, with consumer prices expected to return to double-digit growth in August 2026 after briefly remaining below the 10% mark in July. Market analysts believe rising food and transportation costs will be the biggest contributors to the expected increase. AKD Research has estimated August inflation at around […]
DISCO Privatization Plan: Rs911 Billion Asset Transfer Raises IMF Compliance Concerns
The federal government’s plan to restructure and eventually privatize three major electricity distribution companies has come under scrutiny over its potential implications for Pakistan’s commitments to the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The restructuring involves Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO), and Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO). The Cabinet Committee on Privatization […]
FBR Clarifies Revised Sales Tax Rules for Manufacturers and Importers
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced important clarifications regarding the collection and assessment of sales tax on certain goods covered under Serial No. 65 of the Third Schedule to the Sales Tax Act, 1990. The clarification was issued through Sales Tax General Order No. 19 of 2026, with the aim of removing uncertainty […]
Pakistan’s Freelance Economy Starts FY2026-27 With Strong Export Growth
Pakistan’s freelance economy has begun the new fiscal year on a promising note, with export earnings from freelancers recording a sharp increase in July 2026. According to data from the State Bank of Pakistan, freelance export receipts reached $175.4 million, marking a 45.5% increase compared with the same month last year. In July 2025, freelancers […]
PIA Privatization: Why Taxpayers Are Still Paying the Price
Pakistan’s privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) may have transferred control of the national carrier to a private investor, but the government’s financial responsibilities have not ended. A significant portion of PIA’s old debt remains with the public sector, leaving taxpayers to shoulder the cost of servicing those liabilities. According to a report by The […]
Pakistan’s Textile Exports Jump to $1.81 Billion in July 2026
Pakistan’s textile industry began the new fiscal year on a strong note, with textile exports reaching $1.81 billion in July 2026, according to provisional data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The latest figures represent a 43.13% increase from June, when textile exports stood at $1.27 billion. Compared with July 2025, exports were also […]
LSE SPAC-II Plans Rs180 Million Investment in M.P. Industries
LSE SPAC-II Limited has moved forward with plans to acquire a significant minority interest in M.P. Industries Limited (MPIL), with the proposed transaction now awaiting approval from the company’s shareholders. According to a notice submitted to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the board of directors has recommended investing approximately Rs180 million in MPIL following the […]
Pakistan Plans Major Reforms to Transform Construction Industry
Pakistan is preparing to introduce a broad set of reforms aimed at improving the country’s construction industry, with the proposed establishment of a Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) at the center of the initiative. The government is also examining the possibility of creating a dedicated Construction Development Bank (CDB) to address financing challenges faced by […]
FBR Announces Stricter Customs Penalties for Delayed Clearance of Goods
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has introduced a revised penalty regime to address delays in customs declarations, clearance and export of goods. The new measures will take effect from October 1, 2026, and can impose fines of up to Rs1 million per case. The changes are aimed at encouraging traders to complete customs procedures […]
Pakistan and Hong Kong Strengthen Customs Cooperation to Combat Suspicious Trade
Pakistan and Hong Kong have taken an important step toward strengthening cooperation between their customs authorities by signing a new agreement focused on information sharing, enforcement and the monitoring of suspicious trade activity. The arrangement provides a formal framework for both sides to assist each other in customs-related matters. It includes the exchange of information, […]
Agro Processors Prepares for PSX Listing With 15% Public Offering
Pakistan’s equity market is preparing for another new listing after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) gave the green light to the initial public offering of Agro Processors & Atmospheric Gases Limited. The company plans to make 58,049,541 shares available to investors, representing 15% of its paid-up capital following the IPO. The shares […]
Why More Than 317,000 Pakistanis Are Seeking Jobs Abroad in 2026
The search for better employment opportunities is taking a growing number of Pakistanis overseas. During the first six months of 2026, more than 317,000 Pakistani workers left the country to pursue jobs in foreign markets, highlighting the growing pressure on the domestic labor market. According to official figures, 317,436 workers travelled abroad for employment between […]
Pakistan Prepares for IMF Review as $1.2 Billion in Financing Hangs in Balance
Pakistan is preparing for another important round of discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with a Fund mission expected to arrive next month to review the country’s progress under two ongoing financial programmed. The talks will cover the fourth review of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and the second review of the Resilience and […]
FBR Introduces Higher Withholding Tax for Non-Filer Social Media Creators
Pakistan’s digital economy is becoming an increasingly important part of the country’s tax system, with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) introducing different withholding tax rates for social media content creators based on their taxpayer status. Under the new Withholding Tax Card for 2026, individuals earning money through social media platforms will face a 5% […]
FBR Signals More Tax Relief as Pakistani Businesses Push for Lower Costs
Pakistan’s business community may be in line for further tax relief as the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) considers additional measures to reduce the financial pressure on companies. The issue came under discussion during a meeting of a Senate Standing Committee on Finance sub-committee, where business representatives highlighted the growing challenges faced by industries across […]